By Dan Moffett 

    A night at the movies is getting to be a tough ticket in Delray Beach as the local movie houses go through some major changes.

    Last spring, the operators of the Plaza at Delray mall on the corner of Federal Highway and Linton Boulevard received approval from the city for a plan to demolish the Regal Delray Beach 18 Theater. They told the Planning and Zoning Department they intend to replace it with an LA Fitness.

    Then in June, Delray Square Cinemas, a low-priced haven for foreign and independent films, abruptly closed its doors at the financially troubled Delray Square Shopping Center on Atlantic Avenue.

    The net effect of the closures would be to force Delray moviegoers to gas up their cars and drive elsewhere for first-run films — that could mean Boca Raton, Boynton Beach or a trip west past Florida’s Turnpike on Atlantic Avenue to the new Frank Theatres Cinebowl & Grille & IMAX at Delray Marketplace.

    For many residents, this is an unwanted complication to their Saturday night dinner-and-a-movie routines.

    “People have been coming out of the woodwork and complaining the last two months,” said Kelli Freeman, president of the Tropic Isle Civic Association, a homeowners’ group near the Regal 18. “They want their movies, and they don’t want to have to drive to Boca to see them.” 

    The Community Redevelopment Agency is looking at two plans that could put high-end movie theaters on the old library property on Southeast Fourth Avenue in downtown Delray. But those plans are barely on the drawing board and many months away from selling popcorn and tickets to customers. 

    At least a small window of hope for keeping the Regal 18 open may still exist, however, according to Russ Nunley, vice president of communications for the Regal Entertainment Group in Knoxville, Tenn.

    “We continue to operate the Regal Delray Beach 18 and look forward to continuing operation for our loyal patrons,” Nunley said. “The landlord for the property has talked about another tenant that may be coming. Our lease includes the ability for the landlord to give us notice if they wish for us to leave, however, we have not received that notice.”

    The mall’s landlord, Ramco-Gershenson, based in Farmington Hills, Mich., has declined to comment.

    As far as Delray city officials are concerned, the demolition is a virtual certainty.

    “It’s pretty much a done deal,” said Candi Jefferson, a Delray senior planner. “The ball is in their court. They can come in and get the demolition permit for the theater today if they want it. There are no outstanding issues to getting it done.”

    While Jefferson said she has heard complaints about losing the theater, she has also heard from the other side. “I’ve had people tell me they are happy to see the fitness center coming, too,” she said.

    Losing Delray Square Cinema was less of a surprise. For most of the last decade, the Delray Square shopping center has either been in foreclosure or teetered on the brink of it. Jefferson said renovation plans that the city had approved years ago have long since expired.

    “There is no current plan to do anything with that property,” she said.

    Miami businessman Cesar Soto bought the six-screen Delray Square Theater about 12 years ago and turned it into a quirky alternative that was popular with older residents. During its heyday, Soto gave out free drinks to fathers on Father’s Day and flowers to mothers on Mother’s Day. All seats sold for $5 in recent years.

    Besides the shopping center’s financial problems, the theater was under pressure from the studios that are switching to digital distribution exclusively and phasing out film. The conversion from film projectors to digital can cost $75,000 per screen, a burden that has forced many small operators out of business across the country.

    Richard Huei has owned Tony Wu Seafood & Steak Cafe next to the theater for 26 years, with Publix the mall’s longest-running tenant. He said the cinema disappeared without warning or explanation.

    “An employee said they got a call from the owner and were told to pack everything up,” Huei said. “Everything was gone in two days.”

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